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Eid al-Fitr

The Crescent Revelation: “Eid al-Fitr” (Breaking of the festival of the fast)

Crescent Moon on the Mosque. The crescent moon marks the peak of the mosque, the traditional and holy place for worship among the Muslims. The crescent moon also marks the beginning of the Ramadan; 1400 years ago, this was the month where the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Fasting is observed during this month as part of the five pillars of the Islam faith.

Eid al-Fitr, the breaking of the festival of the fast among the Muslim communities around the world, is observed on the 14th- 16th of June, this year.

For the Muslim community in the Philippines, today ends their fasting for this month of Ramadan. One of the growing population of Muslims is found here in Baguio City.

With the Maranaos which formed most Muslim families in this area, the Mosque built at Campo Filipino establishes their presence to be visible in the Baguio population.

Crescent. 1400 years ago the Prophet Muhammad of the Muslims, received the first verses for the holy book, Quran. This is a significant and historical day for the Muslims where they celebrate the month of Ramadan. The first visibility of the crescent moon for this month, as observed from the Muslim Lunar calendar, would begin the season of their fast.

The crescent moon found on the peak of a Mosque reveals a core truth in the Islam faith. The Ramadan, for the Muslims, is the month where the first verses of the Quran, their holy book, were given to the prophet Muhammad. Thus where all their faith and Muslim practices begin. The day the new crescent moon would be visible to the naked eye on the month of Ramadan, signals the beginning of the fasting in their community.

Eid al-Fitr is the breaking of the fasting for Ramadan. As this season ends, living continues for the Maranao Muslims here in Baguio City and nearby provinces with their presence visible to the activities in the cities’ business districts.

Displaced from their first home in Mindanao, most of them still hopes that they could come back to their fields, continue raising their living and sustaining their families from their own land.

Mosque. The first Mosque built in the northern part of the Philippines is found at barangay Campo Filipino in Baguio City. The Maranaos make up most of the Muslim population in Baguio City. One of their established territory is in this barangay.